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'Shocking' standards found at Featherstone prison Fearful inmates 'in cells for 24 hours' at Featherstone
(about 11 hours later)
Violence against staff has increased at a prison subject to riots last summer, an inspection report has said. Some inmates are "living in fear" choosing to stay in their cells 24 hours a day at a prison where violence has increased, inspectors said.
Chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, said there had been a "shocking worsening in standards" at HMP Featherstone, near Wolverhampton. Most of these "self-isolators" at HMP Featherstone, near Wolverhampton, felt at risk because of their debts.
The unannounced October inspection was held two months after inmates started fires during a week-long disturbance at the prison. Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, said there had been a "shocking worsening in standards", and violence against staff had increased.
The decline is not acceptable but reflects pressures, a spokesman said.The decline is not acceptable but reflects pressures, a spokesman said.
The Category C prison, which holds 650 men, was last inspected by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons in 2013, when it received a positive report and scored highly in two out of three areas. The unannounced October inspection was held two months after inmates started fires during a week-long disturbance.
Mr Clarke said the number of men who chose to self-isolate was a "symptoms of the lack of safety" at the prison.
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Inspectors said the abuse these prisoners suffered included other prisoners urinating under their cell doors.
"They could not access showers, exercise, food or work without fear of repercussion," the report said.
Inspectors said while some officers showed concern, others referred to them as "scaredy cats" and their predicament as "self-inflicted".
The Category C prison, in Staffordshire, which holds about 650 men, was last inspected by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons in 2013, when it received a positive report and scored highly in two out of three areas.
The latest report found a "sharp decline" in three out of four areas, with safety assessed as "poor".The latest report found a "sharp decline" in three out of four areas, with safety assessed as "poor".
The unannounced inspection found levels of violence, particularly against staff, had increased.
'Significant unrest'
Two thirds of prisoners said it was easy to obtain drugs, with a fifth admitting they had developed a drug problem while inside.Two thirds of prisoners said it was easy to obtain drugs, with a fifth admitting they had developed a drug problem while inside.
Some prisoners chose to stay in their cells 24 hours a day to escape the violence of other prisoners and a number were "living in fear" because of money they owed, inspectors found. 'Significant unrest'
They also reported that a segregation unit damaged during last year's riots was still out of action, some prisoner unrest was going unreported and staff shortages meant the prison was unable to operate to its full potential.
"The backdrop to the decline at Featherstone was clear evidence of poor industrial relations, staff shortages and some significant prisoner unrest," Mr Clarke said."The backdrop to the decline at Featherstone was clear evidence of poor industrial relations, staff shortages and some significant prisoner unrest," Mr Clarke said.
The report noted the quality of teaching inside the prison was good.The report noted the quality of teaching inside the prison was good.
Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said he was convinced the Featherstone governor could turn its fortunes around. Michael Spurr, head of the National Offender Management Service, is convinced the Featherstone governor could turn its fortunes around.
"The deterioration in performance at Featherstone isn't acceptable, but reflects the real pressures which the system has faced over the last few years," he said."The deterioration in performance at Featherstone isn't acceptable, but reflects the real pressures which the system has faced over the last few years," he said.
"The Government has set out a clear plan for reform in the Prison and Courts Bill laid before Parliament last week, including investing more than £100m to provide 2,500 additional prison staff." "The government has set out a clear plan for reform in the Prison and Courts Bill laid before Parliament last week, including investing more than £100m to provide 2,500 additional prison staff."